Ddrops® is a new and innovative liquid vitamin D that is easy and convenient to take. If you have questions about Ddrops®, you may find this list of frequently asked questions helpful to better understand the product and how to use it properly.
Ddrops® FAQ
» Why do I need to take vitamin D?
- Vitamin D is a building block involved in repair and maintenance of the body. In a recent publication that reviewed controlled trials, vitamin D reduced total mortality1. Many believe that the greatest role vitamin D can play is to decrease the risk of chronic illnesses, including cardiovascular disease, common cancers, infectious diseases, and autoimmune diseases.
- Vitamin D3 increases calcium absorption by as much as 30 to 80 percent2.
- It is estimated that 97% of Canadians are vitamin D deficient3.
» How much should I take? What is the recommendation?
- The Ddrops Company cannot make medical recommendations. Some medical associations have developed guidelines based on years of research and published literature. The best advice comes from your physician.
- Recommendations vary from one medical organization to the other. The daily dose of vitamin D recommended ranges from 200 IU to 1000 IU per day. For pregnant women, the Canadian Pediatric Society recommends taking vitamin D 2000 IU per day4.
- Overdosing with vitamin D can happen, but it is very rare. One would need to ingest large amounts of vitamin D daily for several weeks or months to experience vitamin D toxicity.
- High doses of vitamin D can result in a high level of calcium in the bloodstream, which can cause anorexia, chills, constipation, confusion, depression, fever, fatigue, increased urination, nausea, pancreatitis, thirst, vomiting and weight loss.
- True vitamin D toxicity happens when high levels of calcium go undetected, and calcium begins to build up in organs, such as the kidneys, causing renal or bladders stones. This is referred to as ‘hypercalcaemia’.
- In order to produce hypercalcaemia, most adults would have to take more than 10,000 IU daily for many months or years, which has not been reported in published literature5.
- Most patients with vitamin D toxicity recover fully after discontinuing the vitamin D supplement and avoiding sun exposure.
» Can I be sure of the exact dose each time?
- Ddrops® uses the “Eurodropper” technology. The size of each drop is based on surface tension and the stickiness between the oil and the dropper. These factors remain constant, thus ensuring a consistent drop size every time.
- To slow down how quickly the drop comes out, the bottle is tilted slightly from vertical. Unlike an eyedropper with a rubber bulb, there is no need to do anything other than hold the bottle upside down, and the liquid does not get contaminated by the rubber bulb.
- We consider the Eurodropper format safer than an eyedropper style liquid vitamin D: A Eurodropper limits the amount of vitamin D dosage that can get out by accident, since it comes one drop at a time. The contents also cannot all spill out if the bottle tips over. The eyedropper can get dirty easily.
- Ddrops® products, including Ddrops® 1000 IU and Ddrops® Booster are designed to be dropped onto food, in drinks or dropped on a clean surface, then licked off the clean surface rather than dropped directly into the mouth.
- It is tasteless, so it does not alter the taste of food.
- For detailed instructions see How to use Ddrops®.
» Does the Ddrops® bottle need to be shaken to get the drop out?
- Do not shake the bottle to get the drop out. Hold the bottle upside down, and let the drop come out by itself.
» What else is in this product?
- Ddrops® contains vitamin D and a thin vegetable oil. The oil is purified from coconut and palm kernel oil. There is no chemical treatment involved. The oil is distilled and is similar to the oils present in breast milk.
- It is wheat-free, gluten-free, soya-free, sugar-free and peanut-free. It is tasteless, odourless with no artificial flavours, no colouring and requires no preservative. Consumers may want to compare this list of ingredients with vitamin D products for adults.
» What is the source of the vitamin D?
- Vitamin D3 is the form naturally produced in human skin exposed to sunlight. Vitamin D3 in vitamin supplements starts as lanolin (the oil obtained from wool of sheep and lambs). The lanolin is exposed to ultraviolet light to activate the fat that then turns into vitamin D3. The vitamin D3 is purified and used for vitamin supplement products or to fortify food and milk. Although Ddrops® brand vitamin D₃ is an animal sourced product, the animal is not harmed during this process. Ddrops® are suitable for lacto-ovo vegetarians.
» What is the clinical trial proof that Ddrops® works?
- Ddrops® is an oil-based vitamin D3. All research with oil-based vitamin D₃ has been shown to produce the expected response in the blood test for vitamin D₃. Actually, oil is the most traditional way to obtain vitamin D – after all, the vitamin D story started with Cod-Liver Oil.
» How long is the product good for?
- The expiry date is printed on the bottle, as well as the box. The oil used in Ddrops® is purified to remove elements that tend to go bad. This oil does not go rancid when exposed to air, and the amber glass bottle protects it from light. The oil protects the vitamin D, keeping it stable.
» Doesn’t the oil in Ddrops® go rancid?
- The oil is purified to remove the parts that tend to go bad. The oil protects the vitamin D, keeping it stable.
» Does Ddrops® need to be refrigerated once the bottle is opened?
- Ddrops® products do not require refrigeration.
» What if the Ddrops® bottle is left outside and freezes?
- Stability testing for Ddrops® products has been done between 15ºC and 30ºC.
- We have tested the effects of freezing on Ddrops®. It does become hard at temperatures below freezing, but after it thaws back to room temperature, Ddrops® returns back to normal.
» My bottle of Ddrops® seems to be only ½ full? Has some product leaked out?
- Ddrops® 1000 IU is sold as a 180 drop or 5 mL product and also health food stores carry a 365 drop or 10 mL product. The bottle size used for Ddrops® products is a standard size of 15mL, so it appears to be partially full, although it contains enough product to dispense at least 180 drops for the 5 mL or 365 drops for the 10 mL.
- Always check the safety seal and look for signs of leakage.
» Is the vitamin D still OK if the cap is left off the bottle for a long period of time such as day?
- Leaving the cap off the bottle will not affect the vitamin D. The oil used in Ddrops® products will not go rancid when exposed to air, and the amber bottle protects it from light. These things keep the vitamin D very stable. It is still recommended to keep the cap on the bottle.
» Is it Ok to put Ddrops® into hot drinks and/or warm food?
- Yes, Ddrops® is designed to be put into food or drinks. The heat of cooking might lessen the potency of vitamin D by a few percentage points, but not enough to make a big difference. We suggest adding the vitamin D after cooking.
» What are the differences between the Ddrops® and other vitamin D products?
- Here are some of the differences between Kids Ddrops® and other forms of vitamin D.
Ddrops® range Vitamin D Capsules or tablets Ddrops® is the sunshine vitamin in just one drop! Capsules or tablets need to be swallowed Ddrops® are tasteless, odourless with no artificial flavours, no colouring and requires no preservatives. It is wheat-free, gluten-free, soya-free, sugar-free and peanut-free. Contain vitamin D, in addition to other non-medicinal ingredients, such as binders or fillers Ddrops® are absorbed easily, as the vitamin D is suspended in purified oil, and absorbed directly in the digestive system Capsules and tablets must be first broken down, then the ingredients are absorbed in the digestive system
» Do I need to take Ddrops® at the same time as my calcium to absorb the calcium better?
- Although it has been proven that vitamin D helps with the absorption of calcium, you do not need to take both at the same time.
- There is no need to take Ddrops® directly along with calcium because vitamin D doesn’t act right away. Vitamin D needs to be made into the active hormone and builds up slowly in the body. Calcium absorption is finely controlled by the kidneys, and is not affected by the time of taking the vitamin D.
- As part of the commitment to Health Canada, The Ddrops Company does not give product directly to the public.
- Some physicians have samples of Baby Ddrops® and Kids Ddrops®.
- You can find Ddrops® in most health food stores, several large drug chains and online retailers. For more details, go to “Where to buy” . As our distribution of Ddrops® is expanding, we are updating this page on a regular basis.
» I have not heard about Ddrops® before...my doctor has not told me about this. Why?
- Ddrops® is a relatively new product that utilizes innovative technology. It has been developed by researchers in Canada and is actually recommended by many physicians and pharmacists.
1Autier P, Gandini S. Vitamin D supplementation and total mortality: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Arch Intern Med 2007;167(16):1730-7.
2Osteoporosis Canada, Vitamin D: A key factor in good calcium absorption
3Hanley, DA and Davison, S. Vitamin D Insufficiency in North America. The Journal of Nutrition, 135: 332-337.Feb. 2005
4Vitamin D supplementation: Recommendations for Canadian Mothers and Infants. Canadian Paediatric Society 2007
5Cannell J., Hollis BW, Zasloff M, Heaney RP. Diagnosis and treatment of vitamin D deficiency. Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2008; 9(1);1-12.
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